An impressive list of formation and continuing education options

Wow!   https://archlouff.org/university-of-dayton-vlcff/class-list-university-of-dayton-vlcff/

The Catholic Music Awards and the Ramón Pané Foundation

There’s been some social media / website coverage of the Catholic Music Awards 2025, with English-language commentators looking puzzled and saying  "Who?"  "What????"  no matter which side of the rad-trad / dippy-hippy / contemporary-cool triad they sit on.

Nominations are listed here:  https://catholicmusicawards.world/nominees-finalists-in-english/ and category winners are going to be announced tomorrow, 27 July -which is pretty much mid-summer and slow-news-time in Europe.   You can find out about the awards ceremony on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/catholicmusicawardsworld).

They really are structured like secular music awards with categories for best male and female singer, new singer, album, music video, engineered song - along with, in no particular order:

• Best Liturgical Song
• Best Praise-Worship Song
• Best Evangelization Song
• Best Marian Song
• Best Catechesis Song (Tradition, Doctrine and Magisterium)
• Best Parish Choir
• Best Pop Song
• Best Tropical Song
• Best Group (Band) or Duo
• Best Urban Song
• Best Rock Song
• Best English Song
• Best Production Song

It looks like this is music for life, not just for religion that's just kept in church.

Who is behind this?

The awards have been announced on Vatican News (https://www.vaticannews.va/en/church/news/2025-07/finalists-announced-catholic-music-awards-2025-grammys.html).  This tell us the awards are

from an idea of the Fraternity and Fundación Ramón Pané headed by Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga and Brother Ricardo Grzona, 

and  

consolidated [I'm guessing meaning conceived]as a reference for artists and communities that promote Christian values through music, with an intercultural and multilingual vision.

The Fundación Ramón Pané  - aka Ramón Pané Foundation Inc  (https://fundacionpane.org/) is an evangelisation training organisation, founded in 1994, to mark the 500th anniversary of the first missionary to the Americas, viz  Ramón Pané  (more about him here:  https://fides.org/en/news/69211-AMERICA_DOMINICAN_REP_The_hermit_who_evangelized_America_Ramon_Pane.  It's based in Florida, and I'd guess Spanish is the lingua-franca and world-view basis of most members - but they routinely translate to English, Italian and Portuguese. 

Does it make sense?

The CMA awards, whose name may or may not be deliberately similar to the very-traditionally-minded Catholic Church Music Association, will certainly raise awareness of the Foundation:  I'd never heard of it, or of Ramón Pané, until I went to learn about the awards.   But it's certainly good to know about the first missionaries to any country - and I've now learned why people used to call Native Americans "Indians".

The music in their nominations list is in a genre which is helpful to the communities where I pray - though I've not heard of most of the specific songs that have been nominated, and I've more aware of Pacific and Celtic songs/composers , rather than ones from The Americas or the Caribbean countries.  

But even I recognise that the the music is not catholic (small c, aka Universal), and it does not even begin to represent the breadth nor depth of music used in Roman Catholic lives or churches.  Either this is both the first and last Catholic Music Awards - or the scope will be increasingly widely!

Watching the awards ceremony

I did have the video linked, but its now private.  Will add it back if that changes.

In most categories, there are separate winners for each of English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian.

This feels like a Spanish pop-music awards ceremony.  English language songs and singers aren't going to be winners here.  But Spanish-language organists and polyphonic choirs aren't even in the room. 

Choosing a new Mass setting

Our youth choir wants to learn a new Mass setting - one with a better Gloria.

Below are notes about the ones I've listened to.   The basic criteria is:   through setting (no refrain) of the Gloria, lively / appealing to teens, can be played on keyboard alone.

Also , it needs to have a good on-line learning version , sheet music available for download (after purchase - free would be great, but I'm happy to spend a reasonable amount).   Ideally, it should be viable for the congregation to do some of the Mass parts unaccompanied on days the choir isn't there. 

Update

Just found the new Mass of St Joseph from Paul A Tate:  the Gloria from this has potential:  `

Still to check

Mass of Christ, Light of the Nations - Alonso

Masses considered

Mass of St Francis - Paul Taylor

It's from Australia - need to look at it again.

Revised Mass of Redemption - Janco

Gloria is through set

Recordings are contemporary arrangements - likely appeal to teens

Key of D = bright sound

Gospel acclamation - not too long, can see how various verses could be fitted to it.

Same motifs through the Gloria, Alleluia, Holy Holy (at least).

Is written as a choral piece - can we pull it off in unison???  (esp an issue with the Lamb of God)

===>   THIS IS AN OPTION

Mass of Wisdom by Steven Janco

Online review says it really needs a choir to make it sound good
Spotify has both traditional (ie organ) and contemporary (ie piano) versions of each piece.

Kyrie - suits cantor / response
Gloria - through set, lyrical - online comments say an assembly learend it fast. Recording has brass ... but it may translate well
Alleluia - verses sound fiddly
Gosp for Lent - simple
Holy holy - didn't draw attention to itself
Amen - sounded too complex
Lamb of God - needs choir

===>   This is a an option

Mass of Spirit and Grace Mass Setting by Ricky Manalo, CSP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QlphCklrKo

Has a Gloria, Alleluia, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei
Gloria is a through setting - recording is all keyboard.

Can't see the Allulia without a choir.
Lamb of God - needs multiple parts to work.

===>   MAYBE

The Psallite Mass: At the Table of the Lord

Gloria - through set
Demo recordings for ... unaccompanied but attractive sound.
Holy Holy - good
Lamb of God - needs cantor.
Not downloadable - but there is a review copy.

Revised Mass for Christian Unity by Jan M. Vermulst

Gloria - through set.

I really like the almost shape-note sound / modern chant.   Polyphony on the recording will stretch distract teens though.

Mass of Renewal - Curtis Stephan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bpQzIaHbUM
Kyrie - is in Greek, interesting tune
Gloria - through setting, lyrical, nice enough - starting phrases sound a bit like the one from Sacred Heart - Tim R Smith - which we are already using.   So that's an issue not to choose this arrangeemnt.
Alleluia - don't like the way they pronounce the 2nd "alleluia"

SSG - soemeone says it was best they've tried

Sing Praise and Thanksgiving Mass - Joncas

Gloria - verse and refrain setting.

Revised Heritage Mass Mass Setting by Owen Alstott

Gloria - through set.   But recording has complicated polyphony.  Won't work for our small choir.  (Unless there's also a unison version).

Mass of the Desert - Tom Booth

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDbWJeH3GL20F4m35-bhjFQc7KDrbYBUG
Kyire - very simple
Gloria - has a refrain, recording is rock / band style, won't transfer well to keyboard. Didn't listen to any more after this.

Mass of St Timothy - Tom Booth and Matt Mahler

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8EzgLrdHBOasWL8td2Ovw8MojSLP-aoz
Kyrie - in Greek, call / response. Has verses that would need a cantor (could be left out)
Gloria - jazzy / band-driven - unlikely to sound so well on keyboard

Mass of a Joyful Heart - Steve Angrisano and Tom Tomaszek

Kyrie - gentle, guitar led (ok for keyboard I think)
Gloria - refrain and verses (but 1st is long) - very much band/rhythm led
No.

Mass of the Resurrection by Randall DeBruyn

Gloria:  Recording has brass - we don't.   Witthout it, would it sound too boring???

Mass of St Paul - Walker

Gloria - very dramatic, needs large choir to pull off
No

Mass of St Ann - Ed Bolduc

Gloria - has refrain, likely to need band to be effective - didn't listen to the rest based on this
No

Revised Mass of Creation by Marty Haugen

Youth won't know the original. Some adults will be "never used here". Could be a useful set of tunes for people to learn.
Kyrie - doesn't have one (really?) - maybe it's expected that we just use the original
Gloria - refrain and verses.   No because of this.

Mass of Christ the Savior by Dan Schutte

Online review says " this is OCP's top selling mass setting: it is incredibly easy to sing, and can be very beautiful when executed correctly.  The Gloria and Sanctus are particularly strong; as with some of the other settings here, the Alleluia is weak. "

Gloria
Verses / retailer - not through set.   Two long verses - but the refrain is quite long.   Not looking further just because of this.
Recording has male / female parts

Psallite Mass by Collegeville Composers

Traditional - unlikely to work with youth choir
Recommended if you have a truly phenomenal choir. - recordings are unaccompanied

Mass in Honor of St. Isaac Jogues by Jeff Ostrowski

Traditional - unlikely to work with youth choir

The Hopetoun Mass by Fr Chris Skinner.

Setting from New Zealand = of not used elsewhere in Ireland  (a disadvantage)
Written for use with a group of seminarians.
Guitar led.
Just doesn't feel right for our youth choir.

The Millennium Mass by Bridget O'Shanassey.

Setting from New Zealand = of not used elsewhere in Ireland  (a disadvantage)
Kyrie - is in English - one odd thing in that 2nd phrase turn isn't a direct repeat.
Gloria - through setting, has a section in a minor key in the middle (adds interest)
Alleluia - seems drawn out
Holy Holy - interesting tune, but has a high ending (too high?)
MoF - three given, gentle
Lamb of God - ok
Amen - have that same high note at the end.

-- No, the high ending notes means it won't fly well with congregation.

The Rejoice Mass by Suzanne Gasson.

The Skerrit Mass by Peter Skerrit.

The Cambridge Mass by Ross and Philippa Boyce.

Setting from New Zealand = of not used elsewhere in Ireland  (a disadvantage)
don't appear to have on-line versions, so too hard to learn.

Mass of Hope by Maria Guzzo.

Setting from New Zealand = of not used elsewhere in Ireland  (a disadvantage)

Piano based
Kyrie - in English, call/refrain
Gloria - through setting, not memorable (fine)
Holy Holy - fine, has an interesting hook a the start of lines
Lamb away - a bit formulaeic

Mass of the Good Shepherd by Kristin Browne

Setting from New Zealand = of not used elsewhere in Ireland  (a disadvantage)
Gloria has some extreme notes,and places where the text/tune don't fit well.

Mass for the City 

Someone says. "It's festive and great for a celebration, employs the organ, and is easy for a congregation to sing strong." 

Recording is with organ, though and trained choir.  Sounds complex.  Some parts definitely need organ.    No

Belmont Mass - Walker

Is used in the UK.

Gloria - recording is mainly singers with restrained organ.  Through set.

Traditional sound - someone said in comments   "contemporary chant".   Would be good to learn - maybe won't appeal to our youth choir yet.

Mass of St. Frances Cabrini

Gloria - through set.   Recording has organ - hard to imagine without it.

Mass of Light - Revised - Haas

Gloria - keyboard led - verse and response.

Didn't like

Proulx's Community Mass

Kyrie - cantor / response - so can't be used by congregation alone.   Very Choral.

Gloria - recording has organ, very grand sound.   Likely needs organ to support it.

No.

Mass of St. Francis (Horst Buchholz)

MP3s available here

I'd be interested in learning this- but am 200% sure the youth choir wouldn't!

Other's from New Zealand - not assessed yet

All settings from New Zealand = not used elsewhere in Ireland (a disadvantage)

The Correa Mass by Andrew Correa.
The Hurley Mass by Margaret Hurley.
Missa Brevis by Robert Loretz.
The McCarthy Mass by Terry McCarthy.
Mass of Hope by Maria Galbraith.
Mass of Mary, Queen of Peace by Maria Guzzo.
The Papaeioa Mass by Graham Parsons.
The Saint Mary's Mass by Raymond White.

The Porter's Gate Worship Collective

This week, I spotted an interesting song by The Porter's Gate - and of course wondered who they are.

Some answer here:    https://artandtheology.org/2020/09/12/songs-of-lament-and-justice-by-the-porters-gate/

An American worship collective, which put Covid-time to good use.  No info about denominational links.  But the song-themes, and the language they use suggest a solid theological background, a social-justice mindset, and facility with the English language.   And they tackle the difficult questions - O Sacred Neck.

Songs I've heard so far seem to be more small group performance pieces than congregational.  No bad thing if used correctly - but it can make e it difficult to become well known:  there are phrases here which stick in the mind, but will entire songs stay in the lips and heart?

https://www.theportersgate.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theportersgate
https://twitter.com/Theportersgate
https://www.instagram.com/theportersgate/

Slightly Improper!

A good explanation here of where the Propers texts came from, and why they're not really so key in selecting music - especially if you're trying to establish a well-know repertoire:

https://www.praytellblog.com/index.php/2022/07/30/can-we-sing-just-anything-at-mass/

Everyone needs frequent confession? Or is it repentance that they need?

I ran across this article while researching a hymn that someone mis-heard the lyrics of:

Proud to Be Humble: Confession Is Not Always the Answer

I'm going to quote a small part:

I fear by insisting for so long on going to Confession as a pious duty and almost a goal in itself, we have created a sick spirituality that fosters the worst form of religious pride – the exact opposite of what repentance and Confession are meant to lead us to.

It is not more frequent confession we should be encouraging, but “a contrite and humbled heart”

IMHO, it's not only an Orthodox thing.   And is a message that OLPs (ordinary lay people) need to focus on:  the sacramental icing on the cake is a nice thing to have, the real work comes on yourself beforehand.

The purpose of music in worship

Apparently Sacrosanctum Concilium says that the function of music is to 

"add delight to prayer, foster unity of minds, or confer greater solemnity upon the sacred rites."

Interesting use of OR before the last clause. 

The full quote is   

Therefore sacred music is to be considered the more holy in proportion as it is more closely connected with the liturgical action, whether it adds delight to prayer, fosters unity of minds, or confers greater solemnity upon the sacred rites. But the Church approves of all forms of true art having the needed qualities, and admits them into divine worship.

ref:  https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html